Girl group NewJeans (Image courtesy of ADOR)
SEOUL, Oct. 30 (Korea Bizwire) — In a quiet courtroom in Seoul on Thursday, the five young women of NewJeans lost the first round of one of K-pop’s most dramatic showdowns.
A judge ruled that their management contract with the agency ADOR remains valid, rejecting the group’s bid for independence after months of turmoil that has captivated both fans and the music industry.
The ruling might have been expected, but it was still a blow to NewJeans, who had argued that their trust with ADOR was irreparably broken following the ouster of the agency’s founder and creative head, Min Hee-jin.
Within hours of the decision, the members—known for their minimalist aesthetic and understated confidence—announced plans to appeal.
Through their lawyers, they said they “respect the court’s judgment” but could not imagine returning to ADOR “under circumstances where trust has been completely destroyed.”
ADOR, meanwhile, hailed the ruling as a vindication. In its own statement, the company said the court had recognized that it had fulfilled its duties as a management agency and that the artists’ attempt to use “the appearance of broken trust” to end their contract was unjustified. It also suggested that the decision might help the members “reflect calmly” on the past year’s conflict.
The case has become about far more than a single contract. It has exposed the growing pains of an industry built on the tight control of its talent—and the increasingly public ways that artists are pushing back.
In a statement released through their legal representative, the law firm Sejong, the five members said they “respect the court’s judgment” but maintain that returning to ADOR is “impossible” given the “complete breakdown of trust.” (Yonhap)
Min Hee-jin, who helped shape NewJeans into one of K-pop’s most distinctive acts, was dismissed earlier this year after HYBE, ADOR’s parent company, accused her of trying to take over the label. She denied wrongdoing, arguing that her removal undermined the creative foundation that had made the group successful.
The court, however, sided with ADOR and HYBE, saying her departure did not cripple the agency’s ability to manage the group. Judges dismissed claims that HYBE’s alleged favoritism toward other artists or its handling of publicity around NewJeans constituted breaches of contract.
For fans, many of whom have watched the saga unfold through online statements, leaked messages, and emotional social media posts, Thursday’s verdict felt like both a setback and a turning point.
ADOR said it is ready for NewJeans’ next chapter, noting that preparations for a new album have already been completed. Whether the group will return to the label’s fold—or continue their fight in court—is uncertain.
“We are deeply grateful to the fans who have waited so long,” the members said in their statement. “We will continue to pursue what we believe is right.”
For now, NewJeans remains where it has been for months: in the uneasy space between the pop perfection it helped define and the legal machinery that still controls it.
Jerry M. Kim (jerry_kim@koreabizwire.com)
